dark horse
Someone who possesses talents or favorable characteristics that are not known or expected by others.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He is a dark horse in this competition.”
“Nobody expected the quiet student to win the debate, but he proved to be a real dark horse.”
“Although the seasoned politicians dominated the early polls, the dark horse candidate surged ahead after a series of unexpected and impressive public performances.”
first recorded 19th c.
Originally an allusion to an unknown horse with a dark coat winning a race, as used in the 1831 novel The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881).
- 01
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 02
change horses in midstream
To change one's plan or approach when an effort is already underway or at another inopportune time.
- 03
charley horse
A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.
- 04
close the stable door after the horse has bolted
To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preventive mechanism that is too late (after the first failure instead of before).
- 05
dark cloud
A situation or future event that causes worry, problems or unhappiness, likened to such a cloud overhead in the sky.
- 06
drive a coach and horses through
To spoil, break or render ineffective (a rule, plan or agreement).
- 07
enough to choke a horse
An excessive quantity.
- 08
flog a dead horse
To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or already settled.
Last updated August 10, 2026